DRi Places Chief Development Officer at Polaris

DRi was seeking a high-level chief development officer who could oversee innovation in all its public and private revenue streams, designing and implementing a comprehensive strategy to grow revenue and to sustainably reach a $15 million annual revenue goal in the coming years. After tapping its networks in the international sector and exploring a diverse range of highly-qualified candidates, DRi found Ms. Tracy to be the right match for Polaris. She brings 17 years of development experience to the company, including leadership roles at Marymount University, Florida Coastal School of Law, PROVAIL and the Center for Food Safety.

Ms. Tracy most recently served as national director of development for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, where she increased the organization’s annual revenue goal and secured multiple seven-figure gifts from high-level donors, including former Second Lady Tipper Gore. In addition to managing comprehensive fundraising programs, including grants, direct mail campaigns and major gifts, she has been a partner to boards of directors in numerous organizations and launched a new foundation with the board at Florida Coastal School of Law.

Polaris is a global leader in the fight to eradicate modern slavery. It acts as a catalyst to systematically disrupt human trafficking networks, working with government leaders, the world’s leading technology corporations and local partners to identify, report and prevent human trafficking.

DRi is an is an executive search and strategic consulting firm committed to helping non-profits. For over 15 years, the firm has served more than 350 of the most innovative and respected non-profit institutions operating at the local, national and international levels. DRi has placed hundreds of executive leaders and worked side-by-side with them to adopt strategic plans, design fundraising programs and build staffs. With offices in Washington, D.C., Boston, New York, Denver, Omaha, Austin and Seattle, the firm is led by co-founder, president and CEO Jennifer Dunlap.

Chief Development Officers

Virtually every industry needs top-drawer chief development officers. CDOs play a key role in planning, coordinating and administering capital campaigns, corporate giving and galvanizing new donors while keeping previous funders content. Implementing funding strategies that “keep the lights on,” according to recruiters specializing in the function, is job one.

Recruiters generally say the best training for these positions is experience, noting that there are many industry conferences and summits that are beneficial for benchmarking and sharing of best practices.